Italy joins rush to pull forces out of Iraq

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Italy will pull its 3000 troops out of Iraq, the Prime Minister,
Silvio Berlusconi, announced in a surprise move apparently prompted
by intense public opposition in Italy to the war and Mr
Berlusconi's hope of retaining power in elections next year.

The decision, which follows the killing this month by US forces
of an Italian agent, Nicola Calipari, as he was protecting the
freed hostage Giuliana Sgrena, adds to the growing list of
countries withdrawing troops from Iraq. Australia, against the
tide, said last month it would increase its force in Iraq from
about 400 to 850.

Mr Berlusconi, who announced the phased withdrawal would begin
in September, said on Tuesday that Italy had to "construct a
precise exit strategy" because "public opinion expects it".

In the same interview on Italian television he announced
formally that he would stand for re-election next year.

In Canberra, the Prime Minister said the Italian decision would
not alter his open-ended commitment to send more Australian troops
to Iraq. "We do not have any current plans to increase that number
but I cannot rule out some changes in the future and I do not
intend to do so," John Howard said.

His position was seized on by the Opposition, which said the
impending departure of more than 5000 troops from different
countries in southern Iraq would put intense pressure on Australia
to send more forces.

"Everyone else has an exit strategy but us," said Labor's
defence spokesman, Robert McClelland. "The Government doesn't even
have a mission statement."

Italy's decision is a blow to President George Bush's hopes of
maintaining high troop numbers and a broad coalition of foreign
countries in Iraq.

Mr Berlusconi's government has been one of the staunchest
supporters of US policy in Iraq, but Mr Calipari's shooting
provoked huge anger and demonstrations in Italy, straining
relations between the two countries. Mr Berlusconi did not link the
shooting to the pullout, and the White House spokesman, Scott
McClellan, also denied there was a connection. He said the Italian
troops would be withdrawn only after it was clear Iraqis could take
the Italians' place.

Mr Bush has promised Italy a thorough investigation of the
shooting. Mr Berlusconi told Italy's RAI television that the
killing was a "serious mistake" and said, in reference to the
investigation, "[Mr Bush] knows that he can't let down a loyal
ally".

The departure of the 3000 Italian troops, the fourth-largest
contingent after the US, Britain and South Korea, follows the
decision of Poland, another key European ally of the US, to
withdraw several hundred of its 1700 troops in July and the
remainder by the start of next year.

Ukraine and the Netherlands have both begun withdrawing their
3000 troops, the Netherlands despite US pressure not to do so.
Bulgaria announced on Tuesday - after a Bulgarian soldier was
accidentally shot by US forces - that its 450 troops will leave by
the end of the year.

The Italian troops, who have lost 21 men, largely do
peacekeeping work around the southern town of Nasiriya. Their
departure would leave a "big hole" that Britain, which has about
12,400 troops in Iraq, would probably be asked to fill, a senior
defence analyst for Jane's Information Group, Charles Heyman, told
the Press Association.

"My gut feeling is it's going to be hard to find a contingent to
replace them," he said. "We're probably going to be asked to help
to fill the gap."